Vandalism Causes Over Sh2 Billion Losses for Kenya Power, Officials Report

MARAGUA, Murang’a — The Kenya Power Company (KPC) has faced significant financial setbacks, with losses exceeding Sh2 billion due to widespread vandalism of its transformers throughout 2022 and the early months of 2023. Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira disclosed that the national utility had to deal with the destruction of 894 transformers across the country, leading to substantial maintenance and operational expenses. This announcement came as Wachira delivered a transformer to the Murang’a Coffee Farmers Union to support coffee milling operations.

According to Kenya News Agency, the surge in power bills for consumers can be directly attributed to these acts of vandalism, predominantly orchestrated by individuals involved in the scrap metal trade. The high cost of transformers has significantly contributed to KPC’s operational deficits. “It’s worrying to witness increased vandalism of KPC infrastructure, especially transformers. This trend usually slows economic activities in the country, since many business activities have to use power,” Wachira stated during the handover event in Maragua, within the Murang’a south sub-county.

Highlighting the ownership structure of KPC, with 50 percent government ownership and approximately 48 percent held by the private sector, Wachira emphasized the importance of public engagement in protecting the company’s assets. He urged Kenyans to actively participate in combating this criminal activity, noting that those responsible are often well-known within their communities. The demand for copper and other metals was cited as a key driver behind the targeted vandalism of KPC’s infrastructure.

Furthermore, Wachira mentioned the delivery of a new transformer was in direct response to a presidential directive aimed at improving the coffee milling process at the Murang’a factory. This initiative followed a request from Murang’a Deputy Governor Stephen Munania during President William Ruto’s recent visit to Maragua, highlighting the necessity for sufficient power supply to operate milling equipment previously purchased from Brazil.

The deputy governor expressed his gratitude towards the government for fulfilling their request, stating that the new 315 Kv transformer would enable the union to begin milling coffee locally within two weeks, potentially milling 1.5 tons of coffee per hour. This development is expected to significantly reduce operational costs for local farmers and boost earnings by processing coffee within the county, marking a significant milestone for the agricultural sector in Murang’a.

Local farmers, represented by Peter Kuria, voiced their appreciation for the government’s intervention, acknowledging the impact this will have on reducing transportation costs and enhancing profitability for coffee producers in the region.